The last few bits
Just a last few items to finish up, starting with the cargo ramp. I am choosing to have it in a horizontal position versus fully open, so the small hinge parts supplied are not going to be strong enough for that, so time for some reinforcement.
The Eduard photo-etch deck is far better detailed than the kit recessed detail, but its quite a large piece for PE and takes plenty clamping to get it flush.
After a bit of paint the final product looks pretty good, with a Union Jack thrown in for effect.
From my reference photos there is sealant along the edges, the brown fuel resistant stuff I recall from many moon’s ago. Some Dark Earth applied thickly with a brush has a good resemblance.
Next is the rotor blades, straightforward enough all black with the tree cutting tip protectors on the leading edges masked and painted in stainless steel.
The rotor hubs are also black, however I have embellished the detail by adding some color coding for each blade set as per reference photos, some yellow, blue and red decal strips from a weapons set would suffice.
The engine exhaust cans have a bright finish in metallic gold and titanium. The kit supplied exhaust cores are not really accurate, so I build my own with some styrene tube and drilled through the mounting struts to achieve a better look.
The kit supplied wheels are reasonably detailed and simply sanding a flat gives them a more weighted look. From reference photos the hubs are painted Dark European Green.
The last two items to finish off are the Flare & Chaff dispensers and the IR detectors fitted each side of the airframe.
Richard Allen says
Fantastic RAF Chinook, super detailed and great guide for my current Italeri 1/48 Chinook HC2 project. Can only wish I had that talent for building!
Al Parker says
The final build is fantastic; I’m so pleased to come across this, as I got this kit today. I’m so excited to start, but even more so with your guidance; great work.